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5-11 October 2015

Media Monitoring Report for Rwanda (5-11 October 2015)
Posted on October 16, 2015

Compiled by Berta Fürstová

Report content

  1. Supreme Court ruled against Green Party’s complaint about constitutional amendment
1. Supreme Court ruled against Green Party’s complaint about constitutional amendment
Private but pro-government newspapers

New Times, 8th October 2015  ““Supreme Court rules against Green Party constitutional amendment petition” by Rodrigue Rwirahira

  • The Supreme Court ruled against Green Party’s complaint about constitutional amendement. The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda challenged the ongoing process to amend article 101 of the Constitution which limits presidential terms to a maximum of two seven-year terms.
  • The court ruled that the effort to change the Constitution was not undemocratic or unusual.
  • Green Party lawyer Antoinette Mukamusoni said they respected the court’s decision.

New Times, 9th October 2015 “Supreme Court ruling clarifies on procedures to amend Constitution” by Rodrigue Rwirahira

  • The procedures to amend the Constitution can proceed, ruled the Supreme Court.
  • Chief Justice Sam Rugege said that the amendment of the Article 101 did not violated democratic principles and that the complaint filed by the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda had no legal basis.
  • He also said it would not make sense if a constitution, which is there to serve the people, instead turn to hold them at ransom, adding that, world over, constitutions are amended at the request of the people.
  • Green Party claimed that the effort of more than 3.7 million Rwandans of voting age, representing over 73 per cent of total voters, who sought to amend the Article 101 of the Constitution  to allow President Kagame to run for his third term, was illegal because this article was not amendable. 
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